I was driving home yesterday in my 300D when a weird looking pickup passed me; I heard a howling noise and thought, "He needs to get that thing fixed." He kept on going whereupon I realized that it was *my* car making the noise.

I panicked! Sounded like a WW2 hand crank siren. I checked my oil pressure, brakes, engine had good power, no steering problems. Pulled over and as I slowed down, the sound diminished. Stopped the car and the sound went away.

Got back into the road and accelerated to speed and all seemed well. After a while, the sound came back. I noticed that the dashboard was humming and I could deaden the noise by pushing on the instrument cluster.

I've come to the conclusion that my speedometer is failing. It acts erratically when the sound starts.

Any thoughts? Possible remediations? Is it possible to oil the cable or speedometer working parts or just replace it?

__________________
Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

It is more likely the cable. You can receive temporary relief by lubricating it but a new one is in your horoscope.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It's the audible option speedo. You can gauge your speed by the sound, no looking necessary.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

My car has this exact problem too... I've talked to my friend about the problem before, and he says that it's a problem with the speedometer.

A wolf got into the dash while you werent looking.

__________________
83 300TD (need rear wiper assembly dead or alive)
84 300SD Daily driver
85 300TD almost 400k miles and driven daily.
98 E300D *sold
86 300SDL *sold and made flawless 10 hour journey to new home.

This issue comes up occasionally on the forum and it is no doubt either the cable or the speedo itself.

I've had the howling issue in 2 different cars (only when ambient temps dropped into the 30's or below) and both of mine turned out to be the speedo gears themselves losing lubrication when the temp dropped. Mine were fixed by lubricating the gears with white lithium grease.

__________________
Joe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Former Family Members
95 C280
73 280SEL
90 300D
87 300SDL (X2)
86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD

I have heard that the best lube to use on the speedometer gear and cable is a light oil such as oil for a sewing machine

__________________
1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Ok, I'll bite the proverbial bullet, pull the cluster and lube the cable and inspect the speedo. I think I did this to myself though. I had painted the needles and the speedo needle was sticky. I had to tap the plastic to get it to let go. I'll bet this caused the speedo to fail. Live and learn.

I'll also chase out the wolves. Also, the audible speedo is a novelty that I think I'm going to pass on.

I need to repair the ODO anyway so now's as good a time as any.

Thanks for the witty comebacks and solutions guys.

__________________
Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

... the thread title makes me think you are wolfish about your dash!

like you are asking about standing on the dash for a good position to howl from...

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

UPDATE:
Been driving my 300 DT wagon for a bit and lovin' it.

Anyway, back to the 300D:
Finally got the time to redo the instrument cluster. Took it apart, cleaned everything, replaced the speedo, touched up the faces, put it all together and it looks brand new. Even got matching needle hubs now.

Oiled the speedo cable and put it all back together with much cursing... taking care not to bugger the oil line and it works much better than before. All except for the dang RPM gauge and ODO.

A job for another day. Now the 300 DT can rest a bit.

__________________
Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)